(1)A service policeman may take the fingerprints of a person for the record without his consent if that person has been convicted of an offence in service disciplinary proceedings.
(2)The power under subsection (1) above may not be exercised in relation to a person convicted of an offence—
(a)where the person concerned has had his fingerprints taken by a service policeman in the course of the investigation of the offence or since his conviction; or
(b)after the end of the period of three months beginning with the date of the conviction.
(3)A service policeman may use reasonable force, if necessary, in exercising the power under subsection (1) above.
(4)In this section—
“fingerprints” includes palm prints;
“service disciplinary proceedings” means—
any proceedings before a court-martial or a standing civilian court under the 1955 Acts or the 1957 Act;
any proceedings before a disciplinary court constituted under section 52G of the 1957 Act; and
any proceedings by way of summary trial under section 52D of that Act; and
“service policeman” means a member of the Royal Navy Regulating Branch, the Royal Marines Police, the Royal Military Police, the Royal Air Force Police or the staff of the Royal Air Force Provost Marshal.
(5)This section is without prejudice to any power to take fingerprints under any other enactment or under any rule of law.